Abstract
Purpose: Athletic trainer (AT) turnover intention remains a challenge to the profession. Generational conflicts have emerged in employment culture across professions and may impact AT retention. This study aims to examine the impact of generational differences on measures that have been linked to the vitality of the profession. Methods: An online (Qualtrics, Provo, UT) cross-sectional survey was sent to 5,937 ATs through the NATA (5.8% response rate). Most participants identified as Millennial (227, 69.4%), European American (280, 85.6%) women (208, 63.6%) working in the secondary setting (136, 41.6%). The survey consisted of demographic questions, the Turnover Intention Scale-6 (TIS-6), Professional Identity and Values Scale-Athletic Training (PIVS-AT), and Professional Commitment Scale. We used a one-way ANOVA to compare professional identity (PI) between generations. Kruskal-Wallis analyses were used to compare turnover intention (TI) and professional commitment (PC) concerning generations. We used a multiple regression analysis to identify factors influencing professional commitment (p<.001). Results: Participants demonstrated expected levels of TI, PI, and PC. We identified significant differences between generations on PI (p<.001), PC (p<.001), and TI (p<.001). Specifically, Millennials and Baby Boomers (BOOM) (p<.001) and Generation Z (GenZ) and BOOM (p<.001) showed significant differences in PI. Turnover intention was significantly different between Millennials and BOOM (p<.001), and GenZ and Millennials (p=.03). Professional commitment was significantly different between Millennials and BOOM (p<.001), GenZ and BOOM (p=.03), and GenZ and GenX (p=.001). Collectively, generation, TI, and PI were significant and moderately predictive of PC (R2=0.417, b=3.73, p<.001); however, TI was the most powerful, inversely predictive factor of PC (r=-0.148, p<.001) while PI weakly correlated with PC (r=0.042, p<.001). Conclusions: Significant differences in professional identity, professional commitment, and turnover intention exist among athletic trainers of different generations. Generational differences should continue to be studied in athletic training to avoid generational conflict as this could potentially increase retention and the vitality of the profession.
Recommended Citation
Condrey KM, Eberman LE, Games KE, Rivera MJ. Generational Differences in Factors Affecting the Vitality of the Athletic Training Profession. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice. 2025 Oct 15;23(4), Article 27.
